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Everett-Bellingham WA - Accident News and Resources including car, bicycle, motorcycle and truck accidents and much more.

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties comprise the Pacific Northwest Interior

Across these diverse counties, residents and visitors encounter gorgeous mountain views, extensive waterways, the beautiful Puget Sound, and the vast network of San Juan Islands.

Whatcom County, Washington, on the border with Canada, is an established college town with a growing population

Whatcom County has a population of approximately 200,000. The county seat and largest city is Bellingham. The county name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water."

The largest industries in Whatcom County include manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare. Whatcom County is the location of Western Washington University.

Island County - A unique and beautiful region composed entirely of islands

As of the 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor. Its name reflects the fact that it is composed entirely of islands. It contains two large islands, Whidbey and Camano, and seven smaller islands - Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry.

San Juan County - A beautiful maritime archipelago of 743 islands

San Juan County is a county located in the Salish Sea in the far northwestern corner of Washington State. As of the 2010 census, its population was 15,769. Of the hundreds of islands in the county,  only 60 islands are inhabited.

Skagit County - Situated between near the majestic Cascade Mountains, the fertile Skagit Valley, and the powerful Skagit River

Skagit County, with a population of 116,901, is situated in the gorgeous Skagit Valley. The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon. The majestic Cascade Mountains stand to the east, overlooking a fertile valley boasting a variety of agricultural crops. Running through the valley is the powerful Skagit River flowing westward toward the beautiful San Juan Islands.

Snohomish County - Home of the world's largest aerospace-industry manufacturing facility

Snohomish County, with a population of 772,501, is the third-most populous county in Washington. The county seat and largest city is Everett. The county is located between the sparkling blue waters of Puget Sound and the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountains. Snohomish County begins 12 miles north of Seattle, a little under 100 miles south of Vancouver, and a short ferry ride away from the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula. Snohomish County is home to over 20,000 businesses, ranging from small family farms specializing in organic foods, to the world’s largest advanced manufacturing facility producing state-of art aerospace equipment.

The region's climate can contribute to accidents throughout the Northwest Interior

The climate is generally mild and typical of the Puget Sound region. The year-long average daily high and low temperatures are 59 and 44.1 °F. The western region of the Northwest Interior has a marine oceanic climate that is strongly influenced by the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains, and gets an average of 42 inches of rain per year.

In Accident Data Center, find recent accidents at the links below:

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County car accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County pedestrian accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County motorcycle accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County bicycle accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County train accidents;

Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish County truck accidents.

When someone is injured in an accident in the region, it is important to gather information about what happens next.

Being injured in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful. Accident victims are forced to deal with hospitalization, medical treatments, missed work, and lost income, often while trying to manage pain and disability from their injuries. And then the insurance adjusters start circling. Find out more about accidents and what issues an injured person needs to be aware of by going to this link.

What to do after a serious injury accident in Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, or Snohomish County

When someone has been injured or killed in a motor-vehicle collision, the accident victim and their family members are left with medical bills, lost income, and other costs. It is important to get legal assistance to help the accident victim recover, or when the accident is fatal, to help the family members get fully compensated for their losses. Learn more about how a Pacific Northwest personal injury attorney will help injured victims and families.

State: 
Washington

Legal Data Center

Top 7 reasons to hire an experienced personal injury attorney
What every family needs to know about a wrongful death case
When a bicycle accident is fatal, survivors have hard decisions to make
Twelve tips to improve your personal injury claim
If a loved one died in an accident, this could be considered a wrongful death

Accident reports by county

Island County, WA - 15
San Juan County, WA - 2
Skagit County, WA - 113
Snohomish County, WA - 328
Whatcom County, WA - 156

Legal Resources

Everett-Bellingham WA
Negligence is the key issue in most personal injury cases

Negligence is the key issue in most personal injury cases

Negligence is one of the biggest factors in personal injury - otherwise known as tort - cases. The idea behind negligence is the belief that every member of society is supposed to act responsibly and avoid putting other people at risk – much like the golden rule. Every time someone is hurt doesn’t automatically mean negligence was involved, however. So it’s up to the plaintiff to show that a reasonably prudent person in the defendant’s position would have done things differently under those same circumstances, and that would have avoided the problem in the first place. To learn more about negligence and how it factors into personal injury claims, click here.

Everett-Bellingham WA
5 Tips to help you during the first conversation with the insurance adjuster after a car accident

5 Tips to help you during the first conversation with the insurance adjuster after a car accident

Many accident victims are nervous about their first contact with the insurance company’s adjuster, and justifiably so. Assuming anyone who was recently in a car wreck is dealing with injuries and emotional stress that come from a traumatizing event, it’s hard to think clearly through a claim negotiation. Here are some tips for that first contact with the insurance adjuster to help you advocate for yourself or a loved one and set the stage for financial recovery instead of further anxiety and financial stress.  

Everett-Bellingham WA
When a bicycle accident is fatal, survivors have hard decisions to make

When a bicycle accident is fatal, survivors have hard decisions to make

No one wants to lose a loved one to an accident. But to lose someone because of the negligence or recklessness of another person makes the loss that much harder. Survivors often face anger and confusion in the aftermath of a wrongful death, and yet have so many decisions to make, from funeral arrangements to learning how to live without their loved ones. And making ends meet can be more pain on top of what feels insurmountable. If your loved one was killed while riding their bike, it is unfortunately not likely that the insurers from the negligent driver’s car company are going to offer compensation that fully covers your losses. Having a personal injury attorney on your side can make your financial recovery possible so that you can focus on the emotional healing. Click for more information on filing wrongful death claims from a bike accident.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Bicyclists lack the protection motorists have in crashes, and that means worse injuries

Bicyclists lack the protection motorists have in crashes, and that means worse injuries

Little is there to protect your body from the ground if you are thrown over your bike’s handlebars. Always wear a helmet, because it can be the only thing that protects you from injuries. Yet it is technically not a law in all cities that bicyclists must wear helmets. A car has seat belts, airbags, and other safety features that are engineered to protect driver and passengers in case of a crash. However, a bike lacks these features. Chances are, if you have wrecked your bike and gone over the handlebars, you were injured and might be facing a long road to recovery.

If this accident happened because of the recklessness or negligence of another party, don’t face the burden of finding compensation for your losses alone. Click to learn more about your legal options if you were hit on your bike.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Traumatic Brain Injuries are not uncommon for bicyclists hit by cars

Traumatic Brain Injuries are not uncommon for bicyclists hit by cars

Riding a bike offers little protection between rider and the environment. If you are on your bike and are hit by a vehicle, or your crash was caused by some factor beyond your control, you are likely dealing with a lot of injuries. In a collision between a bike and a car, the injuries a bike rider receives are almost always far worse than what the driver walks away with, especially if the cyclist’s head takes the impact of the hit. If you have a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) after a bike crash, you will likely face a lot of financial problems in addition to the strain of healing from trauma. Don’t let the stress convince you that you have no options and must go it alone. You do have options for compensation for your losses and financial trouble, and are not alone in fighting the insurance companies to get full, fair, and fast compensation after your accident. Understand your rights and legal options if you have TBI after a collision by clicking here.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Tips on what to do next if your child was hit by a car

Tips on what to do next if your child was hit by a car

Kids love bikes – from a bigwheel to a ten-speed. But even with the necessary safety gear and careful supervision, accidents can happen. A child can be hit by a vehicle in split seconds, and experience broken bones, bruises, or unthinkable injuries. When someone else is at fault it’s almost too much to bear. Even if it seems that the facts are clear, and the accident was caused by someone else, there is a legal process in filing a personal injury claim. Legal processes are complex and negotiating with the insurance companies – even if criminal charges were filed against the responsible party – can be traumatizing to all involved.  This isn’t the time to go it alone, and take on a big company yourself that is in the business of saving itself money. Click the link to learn more about what to do if your child was hit by a car.

Everett-Bellingham WA
You have legal options if you were "doored" by a car while on your bike

You have legal options if you were "doored" by a car while on your bike

It’s not just embarrassing – being “doored” while on a bicycle can be lethal. Being doored means a bike rider slams into the door of a vehicle that has been opened negligently. Sometimes the bike zone is actually in a dangerous place, or riding in this zone is unavoidable. This can happen on any road where bikes travel alongside cars parked parallel to the street. Depending on your state, there are laws against it, which means being doored can mean there was an at-fault party. But this doesn’t mean the claim would be so cut and dried. Click here to learn about your legal options if you were "doored" by a car while riding your bike.

Everett-Bellingham WA
How do personal injury lawyers get paid? [VIDEO]

How do personal injury lawyers get paid? [VIDEO]

If you're in an accident, and you're hurt, you probably can't work. Maybe just for a short time, maybe you'll never be able to return to that job again. You might have injuries that needed medical help, and you're getting bills in the mail. If you decide to go after the person whose mistake harmed you, does this mean you've got to pay high lawyer's fees in order to get good legal help? 

Personal injury attorneys aren't paid that way in most tort law cases. So how do personal injury attorneys get paid? Hint: it's not until you do. Bill Coats, of Bill Coats Law, explains how contingency fees apply in personal injury cases.  Click here to watch this video explaining contingency fees.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Bicyclists who are hit by a hit and run driver still have options for financial recovery

Bicyclists who are hit by a hit and run driver still have options for financial recovery

A hit and run accident that happens to a bicycle rider is unconscionable. In most accidents between a car and a bike, the bicyclist is the one with the far greater injuries. On a bicycle, you are much more vulnerable to impact than in a car, even at relatively low speeds. If the driver takes off, added to the pain of the injuries is the frustration and anger at that terrible response. Even if the driver who hit you while you were on bicycle is never found, you have options for recovery. Click to learn what they are.

Everett-Bellingham WA
Intersections are dangerous places where bikes and cars meet

Intersections are dangerous places where bikes and cars meet

Many bike accidents could have been prevented, which means someone was at fault. And in instances where a driver failed to field at an intersection, the consequences can be deadly for bicyclists. Many drivers who hit a bike claim that they didn’t see the rider, and failed to yield the right of way. While that may be true, it could also be from negligence or carelessness on their part. If you've been hit by a car on your bike, click here to learn more.

Most recent accident reports

17-year-old twins Janeah and Janesah Goheen dead and two others injured in accident on Hwy 20 in Anacortes on Oct 31

The Oct. 31 crash on Highway 20 that killed one Oak Harbor teenager near Anacortes has now claimed the life of her twin sister.

Date: 
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Roadway: 
Highway 20
City: 
Anacortes, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Accident Topics: Teenaged Drivers - Young Adult Drivers

Wesley B. Martin, 39 and Angela Rodrick, 18, dead in collision on SR-548 in Ferndale on Oct 22

The driver of a pickup truck was attempting to pass a tractor-trailer in heavy fog on State Route 548 early Tuesday when he plowed head-on into an oncoming car, killing himself and the 18-year-old woman driving the car, the Washington State Patrol

Date: 
Monday, October 21, 2013
Roadway: 
Highway 548
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Weather Conditions

Desirae Garrison-Jones killed in crash on W Badger Rd in Lynden on Oct 4

A Whatcom County man has been sentenced to almost two years in prison for causing a crash that killed a teenage girl in October on West Badger Road.

Date: 
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Roadway: 
West Badger Road
City: 
Lynden, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Rollover

Inna Reva dead and Leonid Shintar injured in crash at Van Wyck Rd and Hannegan Rd in Bellingham on Sept 21

A Bellingham woman was killed and her passenger was injured in a two-car crash this morning north of Bellingham.

Date: 
Friday, September 20, 2013
Roadway: 
Unknown
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Seat Belt Usage

Gaytor Donald Unick dies in crash on I-5 Grandview Rd exit in Ferndale on Aug 15

Bellingham and Whatcom County are growing in population, and with this growth comes increases in traffic, congestion, and accidents.

Date: 
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Roadway: 
Interstate 5 Grandview Road off-ramp
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident

Toddler Jack Joseph Kelley killed in lawn-mowing accident north of Ferndale on July 13

A Whatcom County toddler was killed this weekend when his grandfather accidentally backed over him with a riding lawn mower.

Date: 
Friday, July 12, 2013
Roadway: 
Unknown
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Other Type of Accident

Abraham Guerrero dies in motorcycle accident near the Northwest Ave exit of I-5 in Bellingham on July 8

An 18-year-old motorcyclist was killed late Monday when he slammed into a cable barrier along Interstate 5 at high speed. Troopers responded to the scene, in the northbound lanes of I-5 in Whatcom County, at about 10:45 p.m.

Date: 
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Roadway: 
Interstate 5
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Motorcycle Accident
Topics: 
Accident Topics: Teenaged Drivers - Young Adult Drivers

Man injured in explosion in the 8300 block of Golden Valley Blvd in Kendall on June 12

What personal injury victims need to know:

Date: 
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Roadway: 
8300 block of Golden Valley Boulevard
City: 
Kendall, WA
Type: Other Type of Accident

6-year-old boy injured in fall from second-story window at 1840 Main St in Lynden on June 11

Date: 
Monday, June 10, 2013
Roadway: 
1840 Main Street
City: 
Lynden, WA
Type: Other Type of Accident

Scott Allen Monaghan, 45, found dead due to ATV crash on Cronk Rd off of Hwy 542 in Deming on June 10

A Deming man was killed in an ATV crash on a gravel road in woods north of the Mount Baker Highway. The Bellingham Herald reports it's not clear when the crash occurred but the body of 45-year-old Scott Allen Monaghan was found Monday morning.

Date: 
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Roadway: 
Cronk Road
City: 
Deming, WA
Type: Other Type of Accident
Topics: 
ATV/UTV Accident, High-Speed/Excessive Speed

Ramon Garcia, 21, dies in car crash on Lakeway Drive in Bellingham, Washington

Ramon Garcia died after striking a utility pole on Lakeway Drive. Troopers believe that speed was the primary factor, and that drugs and alcohol were not involved. Garcia was studying visual journalism at Western Washington University.

Date: 
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Roadway: 
Lakeway Drive
City: 
Bellingham, WA
Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Overcorrection, High-Speed/Excessive Speed

Bruce White and Neville Kumar injured in crash on Slater Road in Ferndale on May 3

The things that you need to know about an accident with a drunk driver

Date: 
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Roadway: 
Slater Road near the bridge over the Nooksack River
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Car Accident

Three adults and two children injured in a three car crash in Nooksack on January 4

The driver of a southbound Chevrolet Blazer — Norberto Bravo-Vasquez, 56 — didn’t stop at the intersection with a two-way stop at Van Buren Road and slammed into an Acura headed west at 11:24 a.m., said Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary.

Date: 
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Roadway: 
East Badger Road
City: 
Nooksack, WA
Type: Car Accident

Debra G. Peterson strikes two cyclists with her car in Sumas on January 26; Steven Waterman, 36, killed and Daniel McKay, 51 injured

A driver suspected of being under the influence of prescription drugs hit two bicyclists, killing one of them, then drove off after initially stopping at the crash scene.

Date: 
Friday, January 25, 2013
Roadway: 
Highway 547
City: 
Kendall, WA
Type: Bicycle Accident

Boy, 7, hit by bus near Ferndale on January 10

A seven-year-old boy has been airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after being struck by a bus Thursday. The boy was a passenger on the bus and got off at Lummi Shore Drive near Ferndale.

Date: 
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Roadway: 
Lummi Shore Drive
City: 
Ferndale, WA
Type: Pedestrian Accident